The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of the various streams of constructivism in studies of education, society, science and technology. It is intended to present a number of answers to the question (what really is constructivism?) in the context of various disciplines from the humanities and the sciences (both natural and…

In order to develop an understanding of mentoring relationships and the impact these relationships might have on the development of high-risk adolescent females, this qualitative study explored the relationships between six "Little Sisters" and their Big Sisters mentors. The purposefully-selected sample included women and girls who were actively…

Content-based instruction (CBI) challenges English language educators to teach English using materials that learners encounter in their regular subject-area classes. This volume helps ESL and EFL teachers meet that challenge by providing them with creative ways to integrate English language learning with the content that students study at primary…

This study investigated the problem-solving competency of four secondary pre service teachers (PSTs) of University of London as they explored geometry problems in dynamic geometry environment (DGE) in 2004. A constructivist experiment was designed in which dynamic software Cabri-Geometre II (hereafter Cabri) was used as an interactive medium.…

This paper analyses and evaluates the use of an asynchronous online discussion list introduced to an established distance education print based course on recreational drug use and abuse. This discussion list was established in order to be able to meet a course objective of challenging assumptions and attitudes about drug use, which was difficult…

Teaching with Technology (TWT) is a multi-year development program for Idaho teachers, funded and developed by the J.A. and Kathryn Alberston Foundation. TWT is a complement to the Opportunity 1 initiative that made educational technology available to Idaho schools. TWT provides intensive summer training workshops and offers support to teachers…

This volume emphasizes decision-making which links all the other topics together. The book balances two major perspectives influencing teacher decision-making about instruction today: (1) findings from research on effective teaching; and (2) the ideas of constructivism. Unique to the book is the inclusion in each chapter of a scenario in which a…

Multimedia computer learning activities, when designed according to what is known about children's preferences, may help close the gender gap in attitudes about computer usage in schools. This paper includes: a brief overview of gender-gap research; a description of one response--the UCI (University of California Irvine) Computer Arts program,…

In this exploratory study, 135 pre-service teachers developed an instructional plan for a case study within the MIMIC (Multiple Intelligent Mentors Instructing Collaboratively) computer-based environment. Three-dimensional, animated pedagogical computer agents, representing constructivist and instructivist approaches to instructional planning,…

This paper describes a constructivist and collaborative approach to transforming a traditional face-to-face on-campus course into an entirely Web-based course. The major objectives of this computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) course are for students to experience, learn and design online collaborative learning. This paper is based on…

This monograph presents a view of teachers and scientists cooperating in a co-learning experience. The CO-LEARNERS program is based on constructivism and provides opportunities for teachers to experience science process skills. Contents include: (1) "Impact of Scientific Research Experiences: Preservice Teachers' Ideas on How They Think About and…

This document presents the Maryland Collaborative for Teacher Preparation (MCTP) faculty's reviews on instructional issues of different disciplines. Contents include: (1) "The Maryland Collaborative for Teacher Preparation"; (2) "Guiding Principles: New Thinking in Mathematics and Science Teaching"; (3) "Introduction: Parallel Journeys of Risk and…

This paper defines what it means to be a community of learners in mathematics and examines this concept in light of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. Robust sharing of mathematics, which is a way of analyzing student mathematical sharing in a community of learners, is presented here. Robust sharing of mathematics is…

The supportive role of the research supervisor in an action research study is explored. This critical account of a relationship between a research supervisor and a postgraduate research student was prompted by a sense of disquiet and lack of harmony that developed during a year-long action research study. In the role of a teacher-researcher with a…

This research brief examines the potential of technology to further the goals of restructuring U.S. schools. Strategies are presented for restructuring schools with technology. Although restructuring means different things to different people, the restructuring movement has generally focused on reorganizing school processes, taking a…